All summer I have looked forward to the local fall hunter pace, only to find out that I won’t be able to go. Huge bummer. It’s fun to imagine riding in it though, so I thought I’d indulge myself with a hunter pace post.

What is a hunter pace, you ask? It’s a friendly competition generally used as a warm up for hunting season. Members of a hunt club ride a measured course at a pace they think is suitable for hunting. They average their times, and that averaged ideal time is the goal time for the hunter pace teams. The winning team is the team of two or three that completes the course closest to the ideal time. It’s a great opportunity to get out into an unfamiliar part of the countryside for a brisk ride!

Usually there are jumping and non-jumping divisions. The ideal time is obviously a bit faster for jumpers than for gate-openers. Often there will be stewards posted around the course to make sure the jumpers are jumping and everyone is following the trail correctly. Riders may even be required to take a tag of some sort from a steward and turn it in at the end of the ride, as proof that the team passed a checkpoint.

I found last year’s hunter pace to be a ton of fun, and also so good for my horse. She was exposed to things she doesn’t have to deal with at home or at shows: big river crossings, strange horses trotting past her on trails, unfamiliar and wide open spaces which make her want to gallop! Good experience had by all. I highly recommend checking out any hunter paces in your area!